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" Mellbreak Remembered, with Nigel and Sue. "

Date & start time: Sunday 31st May 2015, 11.45 am start.

Location of Start : The red phone box, Loweswater , Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited : Mellbreak (north and south tops) and back via the side path into Mosedale.

Walk details :   5 mls, 1800 ft of ascent, 3 hrs 50 mins including lunch.

Highest point : Mellbreak main (South) Top 1,676 ft - 512m.

Walked with : Nigel and Sue, James and Charlotte, Joan, Ann and the dogs, Wattie, Elli, Dylan and Harry.

Weather : Changeable, with blustery showers on the summit and beautiful sunshine to finish.

 

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A rather poignant walk today to celebrate the life and mourn the passing of a friend and fellow walker

who featured on this site not so long ago.  We walked with Alan when he completed his 214th Wainwright Fell

on Mellbreak in August 2013, that's less than two years ago.  He died suddenly of cancer in May this year.

Joan and ourselves were invited by Nigel and Sue, his friends and co-completers that day, on a remembrance walk to the summit.

The line-up . . . Nigel (in grey) and Sue on his left

with Joan, Charlotte, James (Nigel and Sue's son) Ann and of course myself (out of picture).

The dogs today . . . Joan's Wattie, James and Charlotte's Elli, Dylan and Harry.

A brief stop at the 'Negative Signpost' without a formal pose for photos this time.

It looks like the finger post could do with a wash and brush up if anyone has a moment !

It was drizzling as we crossed Church Bridge and viewed Mellbreak through the old gate.

Kirkhead Cottage . . . where the garden has burst beautifully into colour.

Up the lane and through the fire-break and we're out onto the lower slopes of Mellbreak.

Looking back at Loweswater, Darling Fell and Low Fell.

Starting up the diagonal path . . . please avoid going up the scree.
The path twists and turns up through the heather covered slopes.

Nigel follows Sue up towards the steeper section.

The first respite from the climb on a small shelf opposite Dropping Crag.

One step out of place and you could be 'dropping' down there into Flass Woods.

The sky is overcast but the clouds higher.  

The earlier drizzle has stopped and we get reasonable views across to Hopegill Head and Grasmoor.

The steep, rather exposed section avoiding the second, higher scree.

'Watch where you place your feet' as one old fellwalker told us in his guidebooks.

A bold introduction to fellwalking

but Charlotte manages a smile after that rather exposed climb up the front of Mellbreak.

A second respite where she can 'peep round the corner' at Crummock and distant Buttermere.

The third and well-deserved rest . . . as we reach the northern summit of the fell.

A picture of our sixteen-legged friends . . . Dylan, Harry, Wattie and Elli.

Heading for the second Mellbreak top half a mile away and just 3 metres higher.

If you want to claim the summit properly you've got to go the full distance !

Sue tests the depth of Tom's Pool . . . careful you don't fall in.

The weather has taken a turn for the worse as the wind gets up and a blustery shower blows through.

Suddenly, like a tap being turned off, the rain has stopped and the sky is blue again.

Charlotte, James and Joan as they reach the summit cairn.

This was Charlotte's first fell and definitely her first Wainwright summit . . . full marks.

A group summit photo in the lovely sunshine.

Last time we were all together here was with Alan and his wife Elaine, back in 2013.

Alan was in our thoughts as Joan poured a glass of champagne and we toasted his memory.

Nigel and Alan summiting Mellbreak in August 2013.

- - - o o o - - -

It was windy up here despite the sunshine and there was no place to shelter for lunch

so we set off from the summit, heading down towards the Mosedale side of the fell.

That's Great Bourne, Floutern Cop, Hen Comb and probably Dent Fell in the distance

though I can't see the familiar 'tree outline' in this slightly poor visibility.

A slight hollow on the western side provides enough shelter to enjoy our sandwiches.

Walking down the side of the fell avoided the main path we used on the way up . . . it was rather damp to say the least.

Now we need to head over there and find the start of the traverse path down the side of the fell.

[ Look for that small stone cairn on the green path in the right of the photo.]

From the high path we get the full view down into Mosedale including its solitary Holly tree.

There are several small trees growing amongst the heather,

the seeds for which must have been blown in the wind or dropped by birds.

Dropping down across the scree slopes,

our descent matches the fall of the valley below so we are still high above the Mosedale track.

Clear of the stones we are on open fell once again . . . so we head more directly down to the bridleway.

Easy walking now as we reach the track.

Harry's pool is in the river just before the forest . . . Harry and Dylan visit but the others decline to join them for a dip.

The stone-lined track winds its way between the fields as we head back to Kirkhead Farm.

The front runners pause at the bridge . . . but we'll pass on the pub today . . . Joan has offered refreshments instead.

Lovely tea and cake at Foulsyke . . . and warm sunshine too . . . a great conclusion to the walk.

- - - o o o - - -

Dylan and Elli, both nearly eighteen months old, seem full of energy even after climbing the fells.

That was them running around in the background of the last photo !

A classic view of the valley and of the Lake District for that matter.

For those that have our 2015 Calendar, this is our picture for June, taken in similar sunshine to last year.

Seeing it is June 1st tomorrow, the foxgloves are not as tall . . . due to the cool Spring and Summer we are having this year.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon Sureshot SX220, or my Canon 1100D Digital SLR.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . sunshine to show Joan's cake at it's best (what's left of it that is).

Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here

Previous walk - 22nd May 2015 - Dent and Flat Fell

A previous time up here - 22nd August 2013 - Alan and Nigel's 214 - Mellbreak

Next walk - 31st May 2015 - Loweswater Farmers 2015